New Pro-Science Think Tank Formed

Paul Kurtz, founder of the Center for Inquiry and editor of Free Inquiry, has opened an office in Washington DC to act as that organization's Office of Public Policy. The new think tank will work to promote science and reason in public policy. The Washington Post has a report on the new group.

The announcement was accompanied by release of a "Declaration in Defense of Science and Secularism," which bemoans what signers say is a growing lack of understanding of the nature of scientific inquiry and the value of a rational approach to life.

"This disdain for science is aggravated by the excessive influence of religious doctrine on our public policies," the declaration says. "We cannot hope to convince those in other countries of the dangers of religious fundamentalism when religious fundamentalists influence our policies at home."

Sounds reasonable to me.

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Meanwhile there is a new organization in Britain, Theos, which is being touted as a Christian "think tank." In their initial anouncements they have made the depth of their thinking clear with claims that atheism is based on faith, and confusion between atheism and secularism.

By Mustafa Mond, FCD (not verified) on 16 Nov 2006 #permalink

You should have also mentioned CSICOP, Skeptical Inquirer and Prometheus Press in his achievements. I think America will finally have a sane government when they are able to give him the sort of medal he deserves.